TYNGSBORO -- Ed Carey needed to take a little time before he could find the answer.

The question was, on the surface, a simple one. What's the greatest memory of your coaching career? That simplicity, however, goes out the window when you try to replay 35 years in your mind in 30 seconds.

For Carey, the well of great coaching moments runs deep. There is no clear answer. It could be the state title he guided the Tyngsboro High girls basketball team to in 1999 at Bentley University. Or it could be leading the girls team to the school's first-ever sectional title in 1987 in a jam-packed gym at Greater Lowell Tech. Or it could be having the opportunity to coach his daughter Sarah and son Brian at the high school level.

In a month or so there will be more time for Carey to reflect. After this boys basketball season concludes, the man who has spent the last 35 years working in the Tyngsboro High athletic department as a coach or athletic director will retire.

"I can't rule out ever coaching again because I'm still young," said the 57-year-old lifetime Tyngsboro resident. "I still have a lot of passion. People that know me know that I'm very emotional, and I don't want to have a stroke or something on the sideline. I want to enjoy my life. But if you can find a job that you can work at for 30-plus years and love it, you know you've done the right things."

Carey will coach his final home game Tuesday night against Clinton.

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There will be a ceremony to honor his expansive career at Tyngsboro.

Shortly after graduating from Boston State College, Carey took the job coaching the Tyngsboro Junior High boys basketball team from 1978-1980. He coached the Tyngsboro High girls from 1981-2002, and has coached the Tyngsboro boys since 2003. He was the AD at THS from 2001-04.

All told, he has won over 400 games, four sectional titles, made eight sectional title appearances, and is a win away from qualifying for yet another state tournament.

Carey said he made the final decision to retire just last week, so that he could spend more time with his two kids, with one living in Philadelphia and the other in California.

"I went in to see (Athletic Director) Tim O'Keefe last week, and I just said 'You know what, that's it I think,' " said Carey, who was also an assistant football coach. "I don't get to see my kids as often as I'd like. I wanted to go see my daughter during Christmas, but as a coach you don't get to take a week off very often. My wife was concerned because she knows how much I love this. But we'll have other things to do. I'll still come see plenty of games."

Carey has arguably been the preeminent face of Tyngsboro athletics for over three decades.

He retired from teaching general science, biology, health and phys ed after last school year. He was also a great athlete as a student at THS before graduating in 1973.

"He's a great guy and a great coach," said Tyngsboro senior captain Billy Mitchell. "He's all about helping us learn on the court and off with life lessons. Everyone loves coach Carey, he'll be missed."

George Mellonakos, a longtime friend and assistant on Carey's staff, knows first-hand what Carey has meant to the school.

"Ed has been a permanent fixture here," said Mellonakos. "It's going to be a lot different not having him on the sideline. We've had a lot of fun together and a lot of success, as you can see in the banners."

Carey was there for the tough years, when Tyngsboro competed in the perennially strong Dual County League and was the small fish in the pond. But Carey's teams always fought hard. Another lasting image came a couple of years ago when the Tyngsboro boys knocked off Waltham at the buzzer at home and the students stormed the court.

He looks back proudly at his first year coaching the girls program.

"There was not a lot of success initially. We had to work at it," said Carey. "It was a lot of work, but that was my team. The kids were always resilient. We had some good years and some tough years."

As Carey takes the court at Tyngsboro on Tuesday night for the final time, he'll once again briefly replay 35 years in his mind. At some point, he'll even get emotional. Just not Tuesday night.

"I don't think it'll catch me during the game because there is too much at stake," Carey said. "Clinton whacked us the first time and I want to at least gain some respect from them."

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